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¹shoulder

noun shoul·der \ˈshōl-dər\

: the part of your body where your arm is connected

: the part of an animal's body where a front leg is connected

: a cut of meat from the shoulder of an animal

Full Definition of SHOULDER

a : the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk

b : the region of the body of nonhuman vertebrates that corresponds to the shoulder but is less projecting

a : the two shoulders and the upper part of the back —usually used in plural

b plural : capacity for bearing a task or blame <placed the guilt squarely on his shoulders>

: a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg and adjacent parts — see lamb illustration

: the part of a garment at the wearer's shoulder

: an area adjacent to or along the edge of a higher, more prominent, or more important part: as

a (1) : the part of a hill or mountain near the top (2) : a lateral protrusion or extension of a hill or mountain

b : either edge of a roadway; specifically : the part of a roadway outside of the traveled way

: a rounded or sloping part (as of a stringed instrument or a bottle) where the neck joins the body

— shoul·dered \-dərd\ adjective

See shoulder defined for English-language learners

See shoulder defined for kids

Origin of SHOULDER

Middle English sholder, from Old English sculdor; akin to Old High German scultra shoulder

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with SHOULDER

boulder, folder, holder, molder, polder, scolder, smolder

²shoulder

verb

: to deal with or accept (something) as your responsibility or duty

: to push (something) with your shoulder

: to move forward by pushing through something with the shoulders

shoul·deredshoul·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of SHOULDER

transitive verb

: to push or thrust with or as if with the shoulder : jostle <shouldered his way through the crowd>

a : to place or bear on the shoulder <shouldered her knapsack>

b : to assume the burden or responsibility of <shoulder the blame>

intransitive verb

: to push with or as if with the shoulders aggressively

See shoulder defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of SHOULDER

14th century

Related to SHOULDER

Synonyms: accept, bear, assume, take over, undertake

Antonyms: disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate

SHOULDER Defined for Kids

¹shoulder

noun shoul·der \ˈshōl-dər\

Definition of SHOULDER for Kids

: the part of the body of a person or animal where the arm or foreleg joins the body

: the part of a piece of clothing that covers a person's shoulder

: a part that resembles a person's shoulder in shape <the shoulder of a hill>

: the edge of a road

²shoulder

verb

shoul·deredshoul·der·ing

Definition of SHOULDER for Kids

: to push with the shoulder <He shouldered his way through the crowd.>

: to accept as a burden or duty <You must shoulder the blame.>

Medical Dictionary

shoulder

noun shoul·der \ˈshōl-dər\

Medical Definition of SHOULDER

: the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk

: the two shoulders and the upper part of the back—usually used in plural